How to apply for adding a new category based on exchanging licences in Dubai?
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This service enables you to add a new category to driving licences issued in Dubai based on exchanging licences from exception countries (list in the terms and conditions).
Eligibility Criteria
Individual customers, citizens and residents, are eligible to apply for this service.
Documents Required
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Original driving licence from the exception countries + Copy
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Original valid Emirates ID
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Electronic eye test
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Letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for diplomats
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Legalised translation of the licence (check the table in terms and conditions).
How to apply for adding a new category based on exchanging licences in Dubai?
Through Service Centres
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The customer submits the required documents at the centre.
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The customer requests to add the required category to the driving licence.
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The customer settles the required fees.
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The customer receives an electronic copy of the receipt to the e-mail registered in the system, and a text message to the registered phone number with a link to download a copy of the transaction receipt.
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The customer receives the licence with the new categories.
Through Driving Institutes (for Singaporeans)
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The customer submits the required documents at the institute.
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The driving licence data is verified.
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A traffic file is opened if the customer is applying for the first time.
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The customer books an appointment for the Knowledge test.
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The customer settles the required fees at the centre.
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The customer receives an electronic copy of the receipt to the e-mail registered in the system, and a text message to the registered phone number with a link to download a copy of the transaction receipt.
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After passing the Knowledge test, the licence is printed and submitted to the customer.
Fees Required
- 200 AED
- +20 AED Knowledge and Innovation fees.
Time Required
- 5 minutes.
Validity
Depends on the remaining validity period of the previous permit.
Terms & Conditions
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The driving licence to be exchanged must be valid.
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Customers with a residence visa issued in other emirates can add a category to their driving licence only if they live, study, or invest in Dubai.
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Customer Happiness Centers where the eye test is available: Customer Happiness Centre - Umm Ramool, Customer Happiness Centre - Al Manarah, Customer Happiness Centre - Al Twar, Customer Happiness Centre - Deira, Customer Happiness Centre - Al Barsha, Customer Happiness Centre - Al Kifaf.
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The customer must be present in person.
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If the visa was issued in Dubai, the company must have a branch in Dubai, and the customer must work in Dubai branch.
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The nationality of the customer must be from one of the exception countries, and the licence should be issued in one of the said countries.
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The customer must pass the eye test according to the requested category.
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The driving licence issued from the below countries cannot be replaced:
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Puerto Rico (USA)
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North Mariana (USA)
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Guam island (USA)
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Liechtenstein island (Switzerland)
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Monaco island (France)
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Jersey island (Britain)
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Exception countries:
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GCC Countries |
||||
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Licence origin |
Nationality |
Licence requires translation (yes/no) |
The foreign licence must be withdrawn (yes/no) |
Replaceable categories |
|
Saudi Arabia |
All exception countries |
No |
Yes, from all GCC nationalities only |
All categories |
|
Kuwait |
All exception countries |
No |
Yes, from all GCC nationalities only |
All categories |
|
Bahrain |
All exception countries |
No |
Yes, from all GCC nationalities only |
All categories |
|
Oman |
All exception countries |
No |
Yes, from all GCC nationalities only |
All categories |
|
Qatar |
All exception countries |
No |
Yes, from all GCC nationalities only |
All categories |
|
European countries |
||||
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Licence origin |
Nationality |
Licence requires translation (yes/no) |
The foreign licence must be withdrawn (yes/no) |
Replaceable categories |
|
Lithuania |
Nationals only |
Yes/legalised |
Yes |
Light vehicle and motorcycle |
|
Portugal |
Nationals only |
Yes/legalised |
No |
Light vehicle and motorcycle |
|
Hungary |
Nationals only |
Yes/legalised |
Yes |
Light vehicle and motorcycle |
|
Bulgaria |
Nationals only |
Yes/legalised |
Yes |
Light vehicle and motorcycle |
|
Latvia |
Nationals only |
Yes/legalised |
Yes |
Light vehicle and motorcycle |
|
Serbia |
Nationals only |
Yes/legalised |
Yes |
Light vehicle and motorcycle |
|
Luxembourg |
Nationals only |
Yes/legalised |
Yes |
Light vehicle only |
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Iceland |
Nationals only |
Yes/legalised |
Yes |
Light vehicle and motorcycle |
|
Estonia |
Nationals only |
Yes/legalised |
Yes |
Light vehicle and motorcycle |
|
Cyprus |
Nationals only |
Yes/legalised |
Yes |
Light vehicle and motorcycle |
|
Slovakia |
Nationals only |
Yes/legalised |
Yes |
Light vehicle only |
|
Slovenia |
Nationals only |
Yes/legalised |
Yes |
Light vehicle only |
|
Malta |
Nationals only |
Yes/legalised |
Yes |
Light vehicle only |
|
Albania |
Nationals only |
No |
Yes |
Light vehicle and motorcycle |
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Romania |
All exception countries |
No |
No |
All categories |
|
Germany |
All exception countries |
No |
No |
All categories |
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Italy |
All exception countries |
No |
No |
All categories |
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Switzerland |
All exception countries |
No |
No |
All categories |
|
Poland |
All exception countries |
No |
No |
All categories |
|
Finland |
All exception countries |
No |
No |
All categories |
|
Spain |
All exception countries |
No |
No |
All categories |
|
Netherlands |
All exception countries |
No |
No |
All categories |
|
Greece |
Nationals only |
Yes / Embassy |
Yes |
Light vehicle only |
|
Sweden |
All exception countries |
No |
No |
All categories |
|
Belgium |
All exception countries |
No |
No |
All categories |
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Ireland |
All exception countries |
No |
No |
All categories |
|
Turkey |
All exception countries |
No |
No |
All categories |
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Denmark |
All exception countries |
No |
No |
All categories |
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Austria |
All exception countries |
No |
No |
All categories |
|
France |
All exception countries |
No |
No |
All categories |
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Britain |
All exception countries |
No |
No |
All categories |
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Norway |
All exception countries |
No |
No |
All categories |
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The Republic of Montenegro |
Nationals only |
Yes/legalised |
No |
Light vehicle only |
|
Ukraine |
Nationals only |
Yes/legalised |
Yes |
Light vehicle and motorcycle |
|
Northern American countries |
||||
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Licence origin |
Nationality |
Licence requires translation (yes/no) |
The foreign licence must be withdrawn (yes/no) |
Replaceable categories |
|
United States of America |
All exception countries |
No |
No |
All categories |
|
Canada |
All exception countries |
No |
No |
Restricted driving licences with categories G1 and G2 cannot be exchanged |
|
East Asian countries/Oceania |
||||
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Licence origin |
Nationality |
Licence requires translation (yes/no) |
The foreign licence must be withdrawn (yes/no) |
Replaceable categories |
|
Japan |
All exception countries |
Yes/legalised |
No |
All categories |
|
South Korea |
All exception countries |
Yes/legalised |
No |
All categories |
|
Hong Kong |
All exception countries |
Yes/legalised |
No |
All categories |
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People's Republic of China |
Nationals only |
Yes/legalised |
No |
Light vehicle |
|
Australia |
All exception countries |
No |
No |
All categories |
|
New Zealand |
All exception countries |
No |
No |
All categories |
|
Singapore |
Nationals only |
No |
No |
Light vehicle and motorcycle after passing the knowledge test (signs test) |
|
African countries |
||||
|
Licence origin |
Nationality |
Licence requires translation (yes/no) |
The foreign licence must be withdrawn (yes/no) |
Replaceable categories |
|
South Africa |
All exception countries |
No |
No |
All categories |
FAQs
You can find a list of common Dubai RTA queries and their answer in the link below.
Dubai RTA queries and its answers
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